Villarreal 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

Villarreal: Viera; Josemi, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Arruabarrena; José Marí (Roger 71'), Marcos Senna, Tacchinardi, Héctor Font (Cazorla 81'); Guille Franco, Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Velasco, Perea, Pablo, Molinero; Galletti (Colsa 84'), Luccin, Ibagaza (García Calvo 93'), Antonio López; Kezman, Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Peña, Marcos Senna, Guille Franco for Quique Alvarez, Josico, Riquelme / Atlético: Molinero, Luccin, Ibagaza for Colsa, Gabi, Petrov.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Diego Forlán. Got on end of José Marí cross to turn ball under Leo Franco.
1-1. 57. Fernando Torres. Looping header over Viera from long pass by Luccin.

Villarreal moved back up to the UEFA cup spots pending Sunday's games despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Atlético Madrid on Saturday evening. Diego Forlán gave Pellegrini's side the lead in the tenth minute when he connected with José Marí's cross to shoot under the legs of Leo Franco, and they could have gone further ahead had José Marí been able to beat Leo Franco when presented with a couple of chances later in the half.

Atlético only caused any problems for the local defence late in the first half when Kezman shot wide following a quickly taken free kick, but the Serbian striker brought a good save out of Viera soon after the restart and then headed wide from the resulting corner. Antonio López fired a free kick over the bar, and soon afterwards the visitors equalised, Fernando Torres steering a looping header over Viera from Luccin's long ball out of midfield.

Guille Franco was making his first start for the locals, and he could have scored when both he and Leo Franco failed to control a long Tacchinardi clearance, the keeper getting back quickly to palm the ball away as it bounced towards goal. Fernando Torres had a penalty appeal turned down and Kezman brought another good save out of Viera, but a couple of minutes later Kezman had to leave the field after picking up a second yellow card. In the end though both sides settled for a point which keeps their chances of reaching the European spots very much alive.